Page 175 of The Moon Sister
‘After all those early morning rehearsals, I have never been more ready,’ she declared to Antonio.
‘Good, for I must tell you that in the audience tonight are Frank Sinatra, Boris Karloff and Dorothy Lamour.’
‘Boris Karloff? The monster man? Why is he here? To frighten me?’
‘To see you dance, Lucía,’ Antonio smiled. ‘I assure you that in real life, he is no monster. He just plays them on the screen very well. Now.’ He took her hand. ‘Let us give these rich American celebrities a taste of Spain. Good luck, La Candela.’ He kissed her fingertips lightly. ‘Here we go.’
Meñique watched from his chair at one side of the stage as Lucía appeared, guided to the centre by Antonio. As with all of her debut performances, Lucía was dressed in impeccably cut black satin trousers, a corset that hugged her slim hips and a sharp-shouldered bolero jacket. Antonio bowed to her then left the stage, blowing a kiss towards her. Meñique felt tendrils of jealousy creep up his spine but shrugged them off lest they entered his fingers.
He nodded at Pepe and the three guitarists began to play as Lucía struck the opening pose of afarruca, her arms high above her head, her fingers splayed.
‘Good luck, my love,’ he whispered, knowing Lucía had never had a more sophisticated and demanding audience to enchant.
An hour later, his fingers aching, Meñique played the final chord and watched Lucía finish herbulerías, now dressed in a sumptuous violet flamenco gown. He smiled to himself, knowing that despite Antonio’s careful training, Lucía had largely ignored his set routine, and had improvised as she always did.
That is your magic,mi amor. You are completely unpredictable, and I must try to love you for it.
Meñique stood with José and Pepe to receive rousing applause. He saw that Frank Sinatra himself was on his feet, and even though Meñique had been so negative about coming to New York, he felt tears welling in his eyes as Lucía took bow after bow.
How far you have come, he thought.And I can only pray it will finally be enough.
*
Following rapturous reviews in the press for Lucía’s debut, a performance at Carnegie Hall beckoned. She was up at eight o’clock every morning, and never had Meñique seen her so energised. Thecuadroattended rehearsals all day, Antonio directing them with skill and patience. Meñique was surprised that Lucía took his criticism like a lamb.
‘I told you before, I want to improve. I have to learn what they want here in America.’
One night, Meñique found María still sewing costumes in the sitting room of their suite as he wandered from the bedroom to fill up his water glass.
‘It is two in the morning, María. Why are you still awake?’
‘Why are you?’
‘I can’t sleep.’
‘Neither can I.’ María stilled her fingers. ‘José is not yet back.’
‘Okay. I understand.’
‘I don’t think you do. Iknowthat he is straying again. For the past week, he has not returned here until the early hours, many hours after the rest of you have come back from rehearsals.’
‘He told me he is staying behind to practise the new numbers in the show,’ Meñique replied truthfully.
‘With who?’
‘Some of the younger dancers who have joined thecuadrohere.’
‘Exactly. Lola Montes in particular.’ María lowered her eyes. ‘And Martina. They are very pretty, yes?’
‘María, I understand your worry, but you need not fret about Lola. Anyone can see she is in love with Antonio.’
‘So that leaves Martina.’
‘I really don’t think that—’
‘I do,’ María said firmly. ‘Trust me, I know the signs. And I just can’t,can’tgo through this again. He promised me, Meñique, when I agreed to take him back. He swore an oath to me on our children’s lives. If it is true, I would have to leave, perhaps go home to Spain.’
‘You cannot return home, María, all of Europe is still in chaos. And I wonder if your experience of the past is making you oversensitive.’
